FORT PIERCE — The latest plan to redevelop the Lincoln Park neighborhood may involve the city purchasing a gutted building surrounded by properties it already controls, including the adjacent Jackie L. Caynon Sr. Building that is to soon open as the Florida Highwaymen Museum.
The Fort Pierce Redevelopment Agency Monday discussed purchasing an adjacent lot and cinderblock building, at 1236 Ave. D. The FPRA, made up of city commissioners, oversees a number of redevelopment projects throughout an area that includes downtown and Lincoln Park.
Fort Pierce looking to control area before redevelopment plan
Between the city and the FPRA, the two entities already control much of the block that the property in question sits on, including the building to its east — the museum site — and the parking lot to its west.
“This is a very important corner for the redevelopment of Lincoln Park and the city of Fort Pierce as a whole,” Community and Economic Development Director Shyanne Harnage said Monday.
Harnage said city staff have met with property owner Steven Giordano and he is willing to negotiate, but there are also plans to possibly sell or develop the property if the city does not buy it soon.
“He’s definitely at the table,” Harnage said.
City commissioners, acting as FPRA board members, unanimously voted to have staff conduct an appraisal of the property and then to begin negotiations with Giordano. If a deal is reached, it would then come back before commissioners for final approval.
Lincoln Park Master Plan consultant may start talking to community soon
City control of the property may be important to the overall redevelopment of Lincoln Park, Harnage said. The current city budget includes hiring a consultant to create a “Lincoln Park Master Plan” for redeveloping the community. That process which, Harnage said, will include meeting with residents and community stakeholders, is “getting ready to start.”
A city spokesperson did not respond to requests Tuesday for comment on when those meetings might begin.
Commissioner Curtis Johnson echoed Harnage’s assessment that property may be important to the eventual Lincoln Park Master Plan, and said it is,therefore, best controlled by the city.
“We have a situation here that, if we don’t act, can continue to be a challenge to what we’re trying to do,” Johnson said. “I just want to implore that we move more aggressively to try to acquire this, for a lot of reasons.”
Other reasons to buy property now
Commissioner Michael Broderick openly doubted that a private entity would have much success in developing the property, calling it “functionally obsolete.” Still, the property has value to the city, said Broderick, who works in commercial real estate.
“There is no market for this property except for the city of Fort Pierce. We are the primary buyer,” Broderick said. “If we just bought it and sat on it, until we figured out what to do with it, I see a great value to the city, honestly.”
Though he said he would not normally in his private business purchase a property he did not have a plan for, in this case he supported it for the city.
“I usually don’t say that. In my business I come up with a plan as to what we’re going to do with the property. But, in this case, I see multiple options, as we’re the perfect purchaser for this property,” Broderick said.
Even parking for the museum, Broderick said, would be a better use for the property than the status quo.
There is also concern, Johnson said, about the activities taking place in the alley between the building and the museum site next-door. Action should be taken quickly to avoid any damage to the museum or the valuable art inside, Johnson said.
“That alleyway is a major concern of mine, and the activity that goes on in there,” Johnson said.
More: Restoration work on Florida Highwaymen Museum in Fort Pierce began Tuesday
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Wicker Perlis is TCPalm’s Watchdog Reporter for St. Lucie County. You can reach him at wicker.perlis@tcpalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Fort Pierce wants to buy property ahead of latest Lincoln Park redevelopment plan
Reporting by Wicker Perlis, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
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